Irena Ceder lived in Warsaw with her parents Mania and Sucher and her siblings Mietek and Sara. After German troops invaded the city in September 1939, the Jewish family was subject to persecution. Mietek and Sucher Ceder had to perform forced labor and decided to flee to the Soviet Union. Irena, Sara, and Mania Ceder followed them at the end of 1939.
In Baranowicze (Baranavichy), the family were given Soviet passports. Sucher Ceder found work in Simferopol in Crimea. In 1941 the Germans occupied the city, and the family fled further east. During this escape, Irena’s father died and her brother was drafted. The family fled further to Tashkent in Uzbekistan. Shortly after their arrival, Irena’s mother and newborn sister also died. Irena and Sara Ceder were now alone. Irena became severely ill, and Sara had to work hard to provide for her. When she became unable to do so, she placed Irena in a home for Polish refugee children in 1942. Irena remained there until 1946; Sara visited her regularly.
In 1946 all the children from the home were returned to Poland. Irena Ceder emigrated to join relatives in Israel in 1950. She was reunited with her sister and brother there.
The Ceder family, including Sucher Ceder (back row, 2nd from right), Mania Ceder with baby Irena on her lap (3rd row, 2nd from right), and Sara and Mietek Ceder (2nd row, 4th and 5th from left), Końskie, 1935. Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C., courtesy of Irene Rogers, 27267
Polish refugee children from the Paxtaobod children’s home visiting a radio station, including Irena Ceder (2nd row, 4th from left), Andijan, around 1943. Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C., courtesy of Irene Rogers, 27165
Children from the Paxtaobod home shortly before their return to Poland, Andijan, around 1946. Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C., courtesy of Irene Rogers, 27166
Yiddish small ad, with which Irena and Sara Ceder sought their aunt Chana and uncle Philip Klein, New York, 1950. Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C., courtesy of Irene Rogers, 27228
